Being the oldest language in the world, there are a lot of fascinating facts about Latin. This language was used in the Latium region of the Roman Empire, and that’s where it got its name. It has been used by numerous scholars, and it’s still the go-to language for studying various concepts in history, medicine, law, and philosophy. For anyone interested in learning this historical language, here are some basic facts you need to know about it.
1. Latin is the Co-Official Language of the Vatican
In the Vatican, there are two official languages: Latin and Italian. The two are used interchangeably in all official matters. However, since Pope Francis was elected, he prefers to use Italian because that’s the language he’s mostly familiar with. In 2014, he declared that Latin would not be the official language used in the global gathering of bishops.
2. Latin is a Difficult Language to Learn
Despite being the oldest language, Latin is among the most challenging languages to learn. Its grammar is complicated because of verb conjugation, gender, cases, and adjective inflection. Latin also has an extensive vocabulary. However, adding Latin to your resume can open up a wide range of opportunities for you.
3. Latin Has Significantly Influenced the English Language
While English is a Germanic language, it has been heavily influenced by Latin; a considerable percentage of English words are borrowed from Latin. Latin has also influenced other modern languages like French.
4. Scientists Use Latin to Name Organisms
Latin was the go-to language for scientists during the Middle Ages. As such, it made sense for them to use this language to name organisms. The Binomial Nomenclature revolves purely around Latin.
5. Latin Was Divided into Classic and Vulgar
In the old Roman Empire, Latin was divided into classic and vulgar. The upper class and scholars used Classic Latin in formal writing and events. On the other hand, Vulgar Latin was used by the middle and lower-class Romans. The latter version was used informally and had some elements of romance. Latin was later categorized into Medieval and Renaissance, each having some significant differences.
6. Latin is a Dead Language
Latin is considered a dead language because no new words can be added, and neither can be altered. This differs from English, where new words are added daily. Back in the day, Latin was changed several times. Good examples are the variations such as Classic and Vulgar Latin. However, at the moment, the words remain the same.
7. The Story of the Forbidden Apple Could Be a Latin Pun
In the 4th Century AD, Jerome was tasked by Pope Damasus to translate the bible from Hebrew to Latin. When translating Genesis, he changed the Hebrew word, Peri, which means fruit, to malus, which means evil, but in noun form, it means apple. Ever since, people have thought Eve ate an apple from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Yet, in the original bible, no specific fruit is mentioned.
8. Latin Has No Words for Yes or No
In Latin, there are no single words for yes or no. Instead, word sentences are used to answer yes and no questions. Words such as Non and Ne had to be used with other words despite being negatives.
9. The ATMs in the Vatican Have a Latin Language Option
Of all the ATMs in the world, the ones located in the Vatican are the only ones with Latin as a language option. That is expected because Latin is one of the two most popular languages in the Vatican.
10. Pope Benedict XVI Resigned in Latin
In 2013, Pope Benedict announced his resignation in Latin. Out of all the journalists present, Giovanna Chirri broke this news first, thanks to her understanding of the language. She shared this news even before the pope could finish his announcement.
11. James Garfield Could Write Latin and Greek Simultaneously
James Garfield is undeniably one of the most fascinating presidents of all time. Despite being ambidextrous, James could write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other simultaneously. Occasionally, he would entertain his friends by having them ask questions, and he would write down the answers in the described manner.
12. There’s Dog Latin
A lot of people are familiar with the coded language Pig Latin. However, there’s also Dog Latin, which entails English words that are “Latinified.” An excellent example of Dog Latin is the spells used in the Harry Potter franchise.